Great Review. I think it sums up very well the sentiment that many people who were previous fans of the band are probably feeling with this record. It is a very different and challenging approach they took, and it probably caught a lot of people off guard.

Its funny how truly subjective music can be, because the way you describe A.M. War alienating via pure music theory is probably the main reason it might be my favorite song on the record. I should probably clarify that I studied music theory in college, so I obviously have a bias towards this type of thing in music. However, I think it is very cool that you picked up on how the same dark and unsettling main riff that is played throughout the song, is presented in the middle of the song with new harmonic content (chords) "one more day..."part. Even though it is presented in a very abstract, non-diatonic manner through most of song, the same riff works with more traditional, diatonic chords. To each their own.

I would like to think however, that this record just might take some time to sink in with people, especially previous fans of the band since it is such a departure from their previous work. I truly think they are producing incredibly unique music, and this record just exemplifies all the original facets that the band has previously hinted at in their music, combined into one beautifully cohesive, even though at times, unsettling package.

Great review and I gotta agree with most of this. The band's been bragging on their Facebook page about how "complex" the album is. What they don't seem to understand is that a shitty sounding song is still a shitty sounding song in 3/32 or whatever

These songs aren;t in complicated time signatures because they don't settle in them for long enough to actually establish them as time signatures. They just add extra beats here and there.

That isn't complex. It's not musically clever or anything (think Oceansize and their 11/8 obsession that they actually use properly). It's just throwing in a random beat now and then. It might make them feel good about being all clever but it's counterproductive. A song works much better when a beat/groove is established then departed from with reason and cleverly. This is not that

Excellent review Jacob, I don't know what to think of this record. It is not nearly as catchy, and the standout tracks are too far apart. On the other hand, I like complex drumming, so.... I think I'll stick with Sound Awake

Thanks man. I love complex drumming too (Bedlam in Goliath is one of my favorites,) but much of the parts here don't serve much purpose. Make sure to pay attention to the better songs here, though-- there are some gems.